My Strive arrived yesterday – well ahead of the revised week 52 delivery.Got an email from Canyon saying that it would be with UPS within 48hrs but it was not only with UPS but also with me within that time. Got it built up last night but didn’t have time to get it outside.

Couple of pics here

http://tyredout.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/shes-here.html

@Pukeko – will do, but don’t hold your breath.
My friend who has one is a very aggressive rider – his other bike is one of Steve Peat’s old V10’s. He’s got nothing but good things to say about his Strive. It’s stood up to his abuse but it also seems to climb and pedal better than it’s travel and burliness should allow.

I considered canceling my order, but I was just being petty and would regret it as I’ve had my heart set on the Strive since a friend got one two years ago – delivered on time and has been great ever since. I wish I could say the same.
It does strike me that their email to say it was ready and waiting pick up was obviously a little white lie that didn’t work out for them. Not good.
I might get my lbs to go over the bearings etc when it eventually turns up.

“

check the pivots (and headset) are properly greased

“

It sounds like you might have a bad experience in this department???

Got an email from Canyon today – bike delivery has been delayed until the last week of the year (which I take as meaning early next year). Reason given – “the delivery date of a main component was not met by our supplier”.
It’s out of their hands then, I guess, but it’s not the best way to begin a customer/brand relationship and isn’t the German Reliability I’d heard about.

Yep, I’ve emailed them asking – no reply. And I’ve called them a few times, never had anyone answer the phone but I’ve left a message. If I believe what I read online then the UK ‘office’ is in fact one bloke, so I guess he has a lot to deal with around now, if the first batches are coming through.
Still, it’d be nice to hear back.

I’m kinda on the mtb trail side of things, I have to admit. So the ‘event village’ is being looked after by an other group of folks but I think I’m right in saying that the portaloos will be provided for, in part at least, by the council and as we’ll only need a few to boost the rugby clubs facilities, it should be fairly cost effective. The site should have pretty much everything people would need for a comfortable, if not luxurious weekend but we want to make sure we improve anything we can.

When I get my canyon I’ll be able to answer how it rides but I can tell you my friend has had nothing bad to say about his, from day one. I’d say it seems pretty bang on for a 160 travel bike. Obviously it’s not a svelte climbing machine but it seems better than could be expected and it’s pretty faultless when you point it downhill.

What about camping? We’re looking at the local rugby club as a camp site – they should be able to offer us the changing rooms for showers, we’ll be installing a number of portaloos, we’re trying to get them to open the kitchen for cuppas and bacon. The whole site is over a river and accessible over one bridge only – which I think helps for security.

What else would you guys expect or like to see to make a weekend visit run smoothly and comfortably. And what would make you want to come again next year. And I suppose, what would be a great big no?

indeed they are – cheers.
Any more ideas?

yes, I thought this would come up but I don’t think we have any local real ale – but we’re going to be certain before we give up on that one. We do have a local ice-cream that’s pretty top notch. How does an ice-cream van at the top of a grueling hill climb sound? (obviously not as good as a great pint, granted).

I’d be very interested to hear what you guys would like to see at a weekend event. We’re aiming to give out weekend a social flavour – we’re currently looking to book talkers / films we can show. What’s worked at events you’ve been to? What hasn’t? What’s all to often been missed out? Your ideas would be gratefully received.

Got a Strive on order. Was between the two you mention and the YT industries Wicked. A friend got a Strive 2+ years ago. He’s a big fella and rides hard – went through about 3 frames on his previous bike. The Canyon has needed new bearings and gear cables but nowt else – in other words, they’re built to last. Having had a shot on his and seen how it holds up, I went with the 2013 models when they came online a couple of weeks back.

http://www.canyon.com/_en/mountainbikes/bike.html?b=3045

Ordered this a few weeks back. The el guapo was on the shortlist but opted for the Canyon as a friend has had one for two years and it’s been utterly faultless.

went through the exact same dilemma recently. Didn’t want smart shoes, didn’t want to look like Jeremy Clarkson when I wore them with jeans and wanted something that would age nicely as I fully intended to neglect whatever I chose. Ended up going for these from Schuh and they’re great, I’ve hardy worn anything else since buying them. They had a kind of lived in look when I got them and they’ve got better since.

http://www.schuh.co.uk/tan-red-or-dead-mr-briggs-boot-ii/3204546220/

Only just discovered the Luminator online, looks like a winner. My OH has just started biking and is loving night riding. Seems like a good excuse to hand over my old (but perfectly adequate) Lumicycles halogen twins and order this badboy. She’s already sanctioned a new bike (Canyon Strive, on order) so she can have my meta.

Cheers Rewski, always nice to get some good feedback.

couple of vids up from a good weekend of riding.
http://turningrubber.blogspot.com/

Hels – think you’re right. Got some here in the south borders but up Glentress and Inners it could be a different tale.

As someone who has contracted through the F.C, in both England and Scotland I can say that there’s been a negative undercurrent running throughout the English side for some time (in my experience). Many who have been with the F.C for some years are almost preparing themselves for bad news or at the best, massive change. The last few years has already seen alterations and many reductions to operation, in what looks like the result of financial restriction. The Scottish side is both separate and somewhat stronger. (again, only my experience, working in small portions on both sides of the border)

Anyone ridden a Sektor yet or know of any trust worthy reviews online? Looking for a new 140mm fork and can’t quite believe this can deliver at such low prices. But I hope it can.

Doh!

Where are you because from my end I got a "bloked in some countries" message. It works for me but I'm not sure if that's because it's my vid. You're really not missing much though.

It will either be the music or the gratuitous sexual content. Were you not able to view it?

davy-g, nice one, thanks.

Cheers LoCo

Well thanks for that, I'll give it a few more tries and will let you know either way.

I will certainly send them back for a rebuild if I need to but surely I should be able to get the needle bearing housing out myself? The bearing's have came to pieces through my attempts and it looks like it's just the outer that is now -it would appear- fused to the inside of the pedal.

Roughly how much am I looking at to get this looked at by the way?

I'm a long term subscriber but when I phoned to arrange transfering to a Premier account I couldn't be found on the system. Should I call back or am I being ostracized for only owning off the peg bikes? 🙁

Yep!

I've done a couple of illos for singletrack and some for biking friends, for a price I could look at doing a commission or printing any work I've got that might suit.

mundiesmiester – Genius! ha ha!!

Taking pics is easy, taking good pics is really quite hard.
I suggest if he wants free pics then go get a camera and take some, if he wants good pics then he'll have to pay for them.

That's what I wanted to say.

I do a bit of teaching at an art college and I kid you not, a lot of the students who sign up for photography do so because they believe that it's going to be as easy as pressing a button and handing in a print.

Ha, yeah, there is that!

Why is it that people after some photography/design/illustration always assume that doing there job for free will lead to more paid work? I assume a plumber wouldn't fit my shower for free on the back of me telling my friends how good he was or in return for letting him sign it.

Not only am I an illustrator but I also teach at a uni.

same here, 46 days. Not missing the beer at all, sleep fantastic, less stressed, general well being much better.

The thing that made me stay off was friends saying "have you been doing secret training or something" when in fact I had hardly been riding, only differentiator is no booze.

Considering staying off all year, even on the 3 week roadtrip to th'alps

Dasnut, I'm thinking the same thing. I really can't think of any reason to get back on the booze. It seems common sense that if you over do it it's gonna hood you back and if it's between a couple now or then or simply nothing, Well, I might just go for nothing. (plus, it'll annoy my mates that I've been better than them.) 😉

So it would seem I either go back to drinking as before and get a bit crap again, I enjoy very little drink and really notice on those mornings after the days I have or I stay off it altogether? Bummer!

Aw, no riding tonight, I'm sad! It's a perfect clear, crisp night too. BAH!

Happened to me and I also zip tied the shell and cradle together, wore it happilly (safely? I don't know) like this until I got another Xen from MBUK letters page. Actually, put an hour into writting a decent letter and you might land a new one like that.